NFL Picks, Week One

Posted by Mike Giardi September 6, 2008 at 9:55 am

Without further adieu…

My lock of the week: Giants 16, Redskins 7. The defending champs will score on their opening possession thanks to Eli Manning’s sweet feet, then use three field goals and a suffocating defense to spoil Redskins coach Jim Zorn’s debut. An aside: Zorn is my favorite lefthanded QB of all-time, edging out Mark Brunell and Boomer Esiason. Zorn to Steve Largent was the thing back in my day!

Kansas City at New England (-15 1/2) - Unless Mother Nature whips up one heck of a storm for 1 PM tomorrow, Tom Terrific throws 4 TDs and the Pats cruise, 38-14.

Seattle at Buffalo (-1 ) - The Seahags have been brutal when coming East. Look it up. Bills, 20-17.

Tampa Bay at New Orleans (-3) - Binky alert, binky alert. Drew Brees will have another monster year, especially with Jeremy Shockey now a part of the passing attack. Saints, 27-17.

Houston at Pittsburgh (-6 1/2) - Big Ben showed a little something something last year. Can he take that next step, and be a consistent upper-echelon QB? Yes. 24-17.>

NY Jets (-3) at Miami - I just watched “Something About Mary,” again and Brett Favre’s performance was as wooden as they come. Still, I like the J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets, 31-20.

Detroit (-3) at Atlanta - We all know how I feel about Matt Ryan, but boy, is that kid in a tough spot this year. I just don’t see anything good about the Falcons. Lions, 28-17.

Chicago at Indianapolis (-9 1/2) - Choosing between Kyle Orton and Rex Grossman is like choosing between getting teeth pulled without Novocaine or surgery with no anaesthesia. Colts, 24-10.

Cincinnati (-1 1/2) at Baltimore - Hard to decide which team I like less. But despite Baltimore still having some of the making of a great “D”, I can’t pick a rookie QB making his first start. Bengals, 21-13.

Jacksonville (-3) at Tennessee - Maybe the best game on the slate. I like the pluck Jacksonville showed last season, and think David Garrard has a little Magic in him. Jags, 27-24.

St. Louis at Philadelphia (-7 1/2) - Weather guy Joe Joyce is busy predicting storms, so I’ll toss him a gift. Eagles 31-21.

Arizona (-2 1/2) at San Francisco - J.T. O’Sullivan?!?? The guy has a mullet in Madden. Mullets only work in hockey and for our lead sports producer. Cards 27-13.

Carolina at San Diego (-9) - What’s the over/under on Merriman’s knee exploding? I say second quarter. Chargers, 24-20.

Dallas (-5 1/2) at Cleveland - The letdown in Cleveland begins. Cowboys, 31-20.

Minnesota at Green Bay (-2 1/2) - I think Aaron Rodgers just soiled himself, again. Wait until he sees all the Favre jerseys in the stands. Yes, I’m taking Tavaris Jackson on road, which I would never really do if I was betting my own money (what little of it that I actually possess)

Denver (-3) at Oakland - Raiders signal caller JaMarcus Russell slimmed down. Instead of eating both his backup QBs this offseason, he only ate one. Broncos, 21-16.